Here are the corrections for last week's entries.
Monday
AM/PM
“AM” means Ante Meridiem or before noon in Latin.
“PM” stands for Post Meridiem or after noon in Latin.
In formal writing it is preferable to capitalize them, though the lower-case “am” and “pm” are now accepted.
It is now rare to see periods between the letters.
Remember that 12 AM is midnight and 12 PM is noon.
Tuesday
STAID/STAYED
“Staid” is an adjective denoting a person who is stodgy, sedate, serious or dull. A staid person is a stick-in-the-mud.
“Stayed” is the past participle of the verb “stay” and means to remain behind.
Wednesday
SPACIOUS/SPECIOUS
“Spacious” is an adjective meaning roomy or large and open.
“Specious” is an adjective meaning pleasing to the eye but deceptive, superficially pleasing or appearing to be good or right but without real merit.
Thursday
BENEFACTOR/BENEFICIARY
A “benefactor” is one who gives gifts.
A “beneficiary” is one who receives a gift or gifts.
Friday
METHODOLOGY/METHOD
“Methodology” (n.) is about the methods of doing something; it is not the methods themselves.
“Method” is a noun meaning the process, means or technique of doing something.
THINK ABOUT THIS BEFORE DISMISSING IT
“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”
Voltaire, French author (1694 - 1778), composed this idea.
THE WEEK’S WORDS
“Empathy” (n.) means entering into the feeling of a person or thing, appreciative perception or understanding, sympathy or compassion.
“Satiate” (v.) means to satisfy, to fill, to quench or to slake.
“Demagogue” (n.) refers to a leader who uses the passions or prejudices of the populace for his own ends or an unprincipled orator or agitator.
“Pungent” (adj.) means strong, sharp, bitter or overpowering.
“Autonomous” (adj.) means independent, self-directed, self-ruling or self-sufficient.
NOTE
Due to the provincial holiday, there will be no posting on Monday, February 16, 2009.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
THINK CAREFULLY
METHODOLOGY/METHOD
Explain the difference between the words "methodology" and "method".
Use each word in a sentence that depicts its meaning.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "autonomous".
Define "autonomous" and use it in a sentence.
NEXT WEEK - VERBS
Do you know the differences among copula, transitive and intransitive verbs?
Postings next week will focus on verbs and their variables.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Saturday. There will be no postings on Sunday.
Explain the difference between the words "methodology" and "method".
Use each word in a sentence that depicts its meaning.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "autonomous".
Define "autonomous" and use it in a sentence.
NEXT WEEK - VERBS
Do you know the differences among copula, transitive and intransitive verbs?
Postings next week will focus on verbs and their variables.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Saturday. There will be no postings on Sunday.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
AN EASY DAY
BENEFACTOR/BENEFICIARY
Define "benefactor" and "beneficiery" and explain the difference in meaning between the two words.
Create sentences that exhibit the meanings of the words.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "pungent".
Define "pungent" and use it in a sentence.
Define "benefactor" and "beneficiery" and explain the difference in meaning between the two words.
Create sentences that exhibit the meanings of the words.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "pungent".
Define "pungent" and use it in a sentence.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
WEDNESDAY'S WORK
SPACIOUS/SPECIOUS
Define and explain the difference between "spacious" and "specious".
Put each word into a sentence that exhibits its meaning.
THINK ABOUT THIS BEFORE DISMISSING IT
Who penned this aphorism?
“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "demagogue".
Define "demagogue" and use it in a sentence.
Define and explain the difference between "spacious" and "specious".
Put each word into a sentence that exhibits its meaning.
THINK ABOUT THIS BEFORE DISMISSING IT
Who penned this aphorism?
“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "demagogue".
Define "demagogue" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
"S" IS THE SOUND
STAID/STAYED
Explain the difference in meaning between "staid" and "stayed".
What part of speech is each word.
Create a sentence for each word that clearly exhibits its meaning.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "satiate".
Define "satiate" and use it in a sentence.
Explain the difference in meaning between "staid" and "stayed".
What part of speech is each word.
Create a sentence for each word that clearly exhibits its meaning.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "satiate".
Define "satiate" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, February 9, 2009
A QUESTION OF TIME
AM/PM
To what do the short forms “AM” and “PM” refer?
Identify the full Latin word form of each.
Explain the correct use of each term and differentiate between correct formal and informal usage.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "empathy".
Define "empathy" and use it in a sentence.
To what do the short forms “AM” and “PM” refer?
Identify the full Latin word form of each.
Explain the correct use of each term and differentiate between correct formal and informal usage.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "empathy".
Define "empathy" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - February 8, 2009
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
Each unit below has, at least, one error. Find and correct each error.
Title: “Rants, ranters: Huge waste of time”
There is no capitalizing of words after a colon unless they are proper nouns.
Title: “Rants, ranters: huge waste of time”
“A lot of things cheese me off. My bad back, debt, snow, this winter. Mean people, people who are overly nice.”
There are incomplete thoughts and incorrect punctuation here.
This is a good place to use a colon and the rule is: use a colon before a list when the list is preceded by a complete independent clause.
"Cheese" is a noun. Can it correctly be used as a verb?
“A lot of things really irritate me: my bad back, debt, snow, this winter, mean people and people who are overly nice.”
“That reminds me of another thing I don't like. People who complain.”
Check the comments in the preceding example.
“That reminds me of another thing I don't like: people who complain.”
Another way of correcting this and making it stronger is to create two independent sentences.
“That reminds me of another thing I don't like. I don’t like people who complain.”
“Instead of unloading my problems onto someone, I'd rather leave them feeling happier than they were when I ran into them.”
“Them” and “they” are relative pronouns referring back to the singular word “someone”; therefore, the words should be singular.
“Instead of unloading my problems onto someone, I'd rather leave him feeling happier than he was when I ran into him.”
If it is necessary to be politically correct, use “her” instead of “him”.
Another solution is to use a plural form instead of the singular “someone”.
“Instead of unloading my problems onto others, I'd rather leave them feeling happier than they were when I ran into them.”
“You know, pushing the rage deep down into your guts until it turns into an ulcer.”
This is an incomplete thought; there is no main verb. Actually, there is no verb at all.
“You know, you push the rage deep down into your guts until it turns into an ulcer.”
(Put this back into the context of the article and it makes more sense.)
Tuesday
CLEANUP/CLEAN UP
“Cleanup” is a noun as in the clause, “the cleanup of the ashes and rubble from the fire will cost millions of dollars”.
“Clean” is a verb and “clean up” is a verb phrase.
“Clean up your room and you can go out with your friends tonight.”
Wednesday
CREVICE/CREVASSE
“Crevice” refers to a small gap, crack or fissure in rock or between things such as teeth.
“Crevasse” is a French word referring to a gorge, a chasm or a large gap such as in a glacier.
Thursday
PERSPECTIVE/PROSPECTIVE
“Perspective”, a noun, refers to a viewpoint, an outlook an angle as in a bigot’s perspective being myopic and hateful.
“Prospective” is usually an adjective meaning potential, forthcoming, likely or probable as in one’s prospective employment beginning in March.
Friday
LIABLE/LIBEL
“Liable”, an adjective, means likely as in one is liable to do something if it is enjoyable. It also means, legally, being accountable or responsible for some action.
“Libel” means to defame, slander or vilify another in print or any in any form other than the spoken word. “Defamation by the spoken word is slander."
GOOD FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“Love is the difficult realization that something other than oneself is real.”
Iris Murdoch, British novelist, 1919 - 1999, created this phrase.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
(Sorry! I posted the same word twice this week. I’ll make it up some time. Don‘t hold your breath.)
“Banality” (n.) means triteness, triviality or ordinariness.
“Disaffected” (adj.) means discontented through having lost one’s feelings of loyalty or commitment. It comes from the word “disaffection ” which refers to the alienation the affections on a person.
“Ostentatious” (adj.) means pretentious, flamboyant, showy or affected.
“Nonchalance” (n.) means indifference, detachment, dispassion or disinterest.
Monday
Each unit below has, at least, one error. Find and correct each error.
Title: “Rants, ranters: Huge waste of time”
There is no capitalizing of words after a colon unless they are proper nouns.
Title: “Rants, ranters: huge waste of time”
“A lot of things cheese me off. My bad back, debt, snow, this winter. Mean people, people who are overly nice.”
There are incomplete thoughts and incorrect punctuation here.
This is a good place to use a colon and the rule is: use a colon before a list when the list is preceded by a complete independent clause.
"Cheese" is a noun. Can it correctly be used as a verb?
“A lot of things really irritate me: my bad back, debt, snow, this winter, mean people and people who are overly nice.”
“That reminds me of another thing I don't like. People who complain.”
Check the comments in the preceding example.
“That reminds me of another thing I don't like: people who complain.”
Another way of correcting this and making it stronger is to create two independent sentences.
“That reminds me of another thing I don't like. I don’t like people who complain.”
“Instead of unloading my problems onto someone, I'd rather leave them feeling happier than they were when I ran into them.”
“Them” and “they” are relative pronouns referring back to the singular word “someone”; therefore, the words should be singular.
“Instead of unloading my problems onto someone, I'd rather leave him feeling happier than he was when I ran into him.”
If it is necessary to be politically correct, use “her” instead of “him”.
Another solution is to use a plural form instead of the singular “someone”.
“Instead of unloading my problems onto others, I'd rather leave them feeling happier than they were when I ran into them.”
“You know, pushing the rage deep down into your guts until it turns into an ulcer.”
This is an incomplete thought; there is no main verb. Actually, there is no verb at all.
“You know, you push the rage deep down into your guts until it turns into an ulcer.”
(Put this back into the context of the article and it makes more sense.)
Tuesday
CLEANUP/CLEAN UP
“Cleanup” is a noun as in the clause, “the cleanup of the ashes and rubble from the fire will cost millions of dollars”.
“Clean” is a verb and “clean up” is a verb phrase.
“Clean up your room and you can go out with your friends tonight.”
Wednesday
CREVICE/CREVASSE
“Crevice” refers to a small gap, crack or fissure in rock or between things such as teeth.
“Crevasse” is a French word referring to a gorge, a chasm or a large gap such as in a glacier.
Thursday
PERSPECTIVE/PROSPECTIVE
“Perspective”, a noun, refers to a viewpoint, an outlook an angle as in a bigot’s perspective being myopic and hateful.
“Prospective” is usually an adjective meaning potential, forthcoming, likely or probable as in one’s prospective employment beginning in March.
Friday
LIABLE/LIBEL
“Liable”, an adjective, means likely as in one is liable to do something if it is enjoyable. It also means, legally, being accountable or responsible for some action.
“Libel” means to defame, slander or vilify another in print or any in any form other than the spoken word. “Defamation by the spoken word is slander."
GOOD FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“Love is the difficult realization that something other than oneself is real.”
Iris Murdoch, British novelist, 1919 - 1999, created this phrase.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
(Sorry! I posted the same word twice this week. I’ll make it up some time. Don‘t hold your breath.)
“Banality” (n.) means triteness, triviality or ordinariness.
“Disaffected” (adj.) means discontented through having lost one’s feelings of loyalty or commitment. It comes from the word “disaffection ” which refers to the alienation the affections on a person.
“Ostentatious” (adj.) means pretentious, flamboyant, showy or affected.
“Nonchalance” (n.) means indifference, detachment, dispassion or disinterest.
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